In order to make the tunnel boring machine (TBM), which is stuck after encountering a massive pile of garbage 33 feet from the surface, resume the work, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is spending more than ₹10 crore to construct a concrete box and compensate shop owners affected by the metro work.
Recently, the machine named Rudra was stuck near Lakkasandra after drilling work had commenced from Dairy Circle side. The metro officials were shocked to realise that it was not a hard rock, but a heap of trash blocking the way of the giant machine.
Dumping site
An investigation by metro officials revealed that four decades ago, the area used to be a granite quarry; it was later converted into a dumping site. The metro staff had found tyres, plastic buckets, shoes, and other trash blocking the way of the machine. The officials had said garbage pile for a distance of 40 meters was blocking the way of the machine.
To resume the tunneling work, the BMRCL has planned to build a concrete box by piling and also remove six structures on the surface as they were built on quarry land which was levelled using sand, debris and other materials.
BMRCL Managing Director Anjum Parwez told The Hindu that on the periphery of tunnel alignment, the reinforced piling work has already started and rest of the piling work will be completed in two months. Once the concrete box is ready, the machine will resume the drilling work.
Safety factor
Meanwhile, as a safety measure, the BMRCL has decided to remove several structures that were built on quarry land which was later levelled by the owners of the land using sand, debris and other materials. The officials said considering the safety of the structures and workers, it was decided to remove six structures.
“As these structures are built on a quarry site which was later converted into a dumping site, it is not safe to continue the work. Owners will be compensated for demolishing the structure, land rent and business loss,” an official said. The BMRCL is spending over ₹10 crore for piling work and compensating the owners.
Murari Sharma, the owner of a marble shop, said, “After the TBM encountered the problem, the BMRCL said they wanted to do the soil testing adjacent to the Bannerghatta main road in our area. Prior to starting the tunnel work, they carried out soil testing near the main road and found hard rocks. Our establishments are located 3 to 4 meters from the road. Recent soil tests indicated that where the five to six structures are located used to be a quarry land and levelled later. The BMRCL has requested us to relocate for four months. We have agreed to cooperate with them.”
He said marble shops in the area have been running their business for over three decades.
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